Call of Plastic

I am a member in a Fb-group called 'Super Cheap Wargaming', which is right up my alley regarding my interest for wargaming on a budget. Earlier this year another member of the group and game designer, Adam L. Dobbyns uploaded some very easy rules called 'Call of Plastic'. At first glance I thought these rules looked just too simple to be interesting, but since I've already done some other very basic wargames last year (Basic Battles and Lunge, Cut and Stop Thrust Dueling game) I decided to take a closer look at this one as well.

The rules

The rules was posted in the mentioned Fb-group, but later removed again. The rules can also be found and downloaded on this link for free.

The scenario

The Call of Plastic rules is designed to be a very easy and fast play wargame based on smaller units only allowing to activate 3 individual soldiers each side each turn, rather than several larger units. So I think this calls for a small skirmish scenario and game. 

It's tempting to use 'modern army men' as the Call of Plastic's very graphical rules suggests use of modern assault rifles and Kevlar protection. I've decided to interp the rules to be basically about ranged combat, close combat and savings and use them for what ever period I like.

I would also like to something to compare theses rules with, so I've decided to re-use the scenario I've used for the wargame reviews of Chain Reaction and One Hour Skirmish Wargames. So again I've placed this skirmish to the United Nations largest mission in both scale and operational scope during the Congo Crisis 1960-65, when UN troops 'peacekeeping' was more offensive 'peace enforcement' with force. 

Situation: 

To secure the main supply route (MSR) between the UN-bases in Kamina and Albertville, The United Nations temporary deploy several traffic control posts (TCP) at critical points along the MSR a head of the convoys and other priority transports, to avoid and handle 'disruptions'. This service are conducted by the Military Police, and each TCP are usually manned by a single Military Police patrol with a few members.

Place:

A head of several planned supply convoys from Kamina to Albertville at the 7th of May 1961, several TCPs are established by UN Military Police along the route. One of these Military Police patrols are securing the junction between Manono and Kitotolo located in the self proclaimed state of Katanga.

Forces:

• UN:
• 1 MP Patrol/ Traffic Control Post of:

• 1st. Sgt. Hicks with SMG
• Sgt. Wayne with pistol 
• Cpl. Dreyer with M1 Garand
• Cpl. Cord with SMG

• Katangese:
  
• A small squad of 5 Katangan Gendarms:
• Cpl. "Crazy Gali" 
• 3 members armed with rifles and 1 private with a SMG.

Mission:

• Katangese: To interrupt the UN presence and possible capture some of that UN equipment or weapons. I think they'd really like that Jeep too.
• UN: To hold and secure the junction so the UN convoy don't get lost on the wrong way and ends up in areas controlled by Katangese forces.

AAR

Time:    16 minutes 

Turns:   5

Result:  UN victory by accomplishing their mission, eliminating their oponent and by points.

When arriving to the junction Sgt. Wayne suggest that they take a closer look at the courtyard across the junction, as if it's safe it can eventually be used as a hold-and-turn area for those UN convoys passing later to hold some of the convoys back, a place to do maintenance on them or turn them if needed.
1. Sgt Hicks agrees. As they have plenty of time before the first convoy are expected, they decides to have a closer look at the courtyard. The buildings looks empty:

Meanwhile the UN MP's are unaware that Cpl. Gali from the local Katangan Gendarmerie detachment are leading a small patrol approaching the same courtyard from the opposite side:

Cpl. Gali needs to secure both buildings to control the courtyard and road cross, and orders one of his Gendarms up on the roof on the building they're hiding behind. Then he orders 2 others to advance to the well to give cover and and supporting fire to secure the further advancement to the furthermost building of the yard:

As 2 of the Gendarms reach cover behind the well...

...they're spotted by the UN MPs. 1st. Sgt Hicks orders his MP's to seek cover and open fire against the potential danger:

Sgt. Wayne, Cpl. Cord and Cpl. Dreyer immediately takes action and opens fire:

- They hit both of the Katangan Gendarms seeking cover behind the well. From being outnumbered, it seems like the numbers are evening out and become more favorable for the UN MPs now.

Cpl. Gali immediately orders the last member of his patrol to advance to the well, seek cover and provide supporting fire from there:

When reaching the the well the Gendarm opens fire and hits Sgt. Wayne:

Cpl. Cord opens fire and hits Cpl. Gali hiding behind the corner. The Katangan Gendarmerie are now without command, and any further advancements comes to a halt. The 2 last Gendarms are only holding their ground for now:

Meanwhile 1st. Sgt. Hicks has teamed up with Cpl. Dreyer, and they both opens fire against the Katangan Gendarm on the roof. -And hits!

The Last Katangan Gendarm is trapped by the well as there are no one left to give him covering fire so he can retreat. He unsuccessfully return the UN fire. The UN fire on the other hand is massive, presise and devastating...

...and they finally takes out the last Katangan Gendarm:

Even if the UN Military Police patrol suffered one casualty, it's still a 'victory' to them as they manage to hold the road cross for the coming UN Convoys, and they control the courtyard if needed for one of those Convoys.

Pros

• The rules are free.
• The 2 page graphic rules makes this very easy and quick to learn and play. 
• You can play this game with any toy soldiers or readily available  army men regardless of they have assault guns and Kevlar or not.

Cons

• There are only rules for ranged combat in general without any consideration to different firearms, RPGs, grenades etc. and different rate of fire and damage potential. Some weapons just make more damage than others and have different effective ranges.
• There are no negative modifiers for moving over or through difficult terrain. A soldier will move as fast through or over cover as he would in the open.
• These rules doesn't differ between different covers from hard, medium or soft, or if the soldier is just 'concealed'.

Conclusion

Thise is a very basic game in it's simplest form, limited to moving and fighting on 2 different ranges. The only modifier is for cover. The graphic rules makes them very easy and quick to both learn and play, and these rules are great if you want to introduce wargaming to a newbie.

My experience is that these rules makes it too convenient for the combatants to stay in cover and exchange fire as there isn't any positive modifiers to move into a closer and more favorable position and add the chances for hitting in ranged combat. Perhaps the intention in this game is actually to have the combatants rush into battle and fight heads on, as you gain more points for downed enemies in close combat, like described in this YouTube-video?

Nevertheless if the point of this game is to storm into battle to try to score as many points as possible, I played it my way and had a narrative and enjoyable game. Since being both easy and  very fast to play, I had time for a couple of games. Thus using same scenario, forces and tactics the result varied (a lot). If you have not tried these rules yet I recommend you to give them a try. - it won't take much of your time.

It looks like Adam L. Dobbyns has made a slightly more advanced verison of this wargame addressing some of my 'cons' above. Please follow my blog for updates if I decides to try them out as well.